Hull City are believed to have opened negotiations with Rennes over the signing of Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik.
The defender has made over 100 appearances for the Ligue 1 side since joining from Le Havre in 2010.
Tigers manager Steve Bruce is in the market for a new centre-back this summer but is being frustrated in his efforts to sign experienced England international Michael Dawson from Tottenham Hotspur.
Sky Sports News reports that Bruce is now exploring alternatives and has given the green light for Hull to make concrete their interest in Kana-Biyik, who was born in France but plays for Cameroon.
Since switching his international allegiances, he has made five senior appearances, but was not part of the squad that lost all three of their group games at the World Cup in Brazil this summer.
